GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE FIRST SPECIAL
REPORT OF THE TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS COMMITTEE,
SESSION 2001-02 (HC 771)

THE ATTENDANCE OF A MINISTER FROM HM TREASURY
BEFORE THE TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS COMMITTEE

1. The Government has considered very carefully
the points raised by the Committee's report but continues to believe
that it would be inappropriate for a Treasury minister to give
evidence to the Transport Committee on the London Underground
PPP.

2. In keeping with the long established doctrine
of collective responsibility, the Secretary of State for Transport
is answerable to Parliament for transport policy, on behalf of
the Government as a whole.

3. Naturally, the Treasury has been involved
in the Government's decision to make an unprecedented commitment
to long-term, stable funding for London Underground, but as we
made clear to the Committee in May 2002, "¼the
Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
speaks for the Government on transport matters, including these
modernisation plans. It is he who will take decisions on these
matters, and it is therefore appropriate that he should give evidence
to the Committee on behalf of the Government."[1]

4. Treasury ministers are, of course, always
ready and willing to give evidence to select committees of both
Houses of Parliament on subjects for which they, on behalf of
the Government, have responsibility, and they have done so before
various committees in recent years. Indeed, the then Financial
Secretary to the Treasury (Paul Boateng) appeared before the Transport
Sub-Committee's inquiry into the 10 Year Plan for Transport, to
discuss aspects of taxation policy, as recently as March 2002.

5. The Government therefore believes it would
be inappropriate for the House of Commons to make an Order in
the terms recommended by the Committee.